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%Start Windows Keyboard Equivalents for the Mac's Special Keys GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps &gt; Windows 333 333 people found this article helpful <h1> Windows Keyboard Equivalents for the Mac&#39;s Special Keys</h1> <h2> Yes, you can keep that Windows keyboard you love so much</h2> By Tom Nelson Tom Nelson Writer Tom Nelson is an engineer, programmer, network manager, and computer network and systems designer who has written for Other World Computing,and others.
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%Start Windows Keyboard Equivalents for the Mac's Special Keys GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Windows 333 333 people found this article helpful

Windows Keyboard Equivalents for the Mac's Special Keys

Yes, you can keep that Windows keyboard you love so much

By Tom Nelson Tom Nelson Writer Tom Nelson is an engineer, programmer, network manager, and computer network and systems designer who has written for Other World Computing,and others.
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Harper Kim 3 minutes ago
Tom is also president of Coyote Moon, Inc., a Macintosh and Windows consulting firm. lifewire's edit...
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Tom is also president of Coyote Moon, Inc., a Macintosh and Windows consulting firm. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 22, 2021 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12&#43; years&#39; experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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Tom is also president of Coyote Moon, Inc., a Macintosh and Windows consulting firm. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 22, 2021 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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Any wired USB keyboard or Bluetooth-based wireless keyboard will work fine with a Mac. In fact, Appl...
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lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email <h3> In This Article</h3> Expand Jump to a Section Windows and Mac Keyboard Differences The Command and Option Key Swap Step by Step: Reassign Mac Key Locations Extra: Keyboard Shortcuts Newcomers and old pros alike use Windows keyboards with Macs. Why toss a perfectly good keyboard just because you switched platforms? Some people just prefer how the keys feel to the ones Apple supplies.
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Expand Jump to a Section Windows and Mac Keyboard Differences The Command and Option Key Swap Step by Step: Reassign Mac Key Locations Extra: Keyboard Shortcuts Newcomers and old pros alike use Windows keyboards with Macs. Why toss a perfectly good keyboard just because you switched platforms? Some people just prefer how the keys feel to the ones Apple supplies.
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William Brown 4 minutes ago
Any wired USB keyboard or Bluetooth-based wireless keyboard will work fine with a Mac. In fact, Appl...
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Thomas Anderson 5 minutes ago
There's just one little problem with using a non-Apple keyboard: figuring out some of the keyboa...
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Any wired USB keyboard or Bluetooth-based wireless keyboard will work fine with a Mac. In fact, Apple even sells the Mac Mini without a keyboard or mouse.
William Brown Member
access_time 12 minutes ago
Any wired USB keyboard or Bluetooth-based wireless keyboard will work fine with a Mac. In fact, Apple even sells the Mac Mini without a keyboard or mouse.
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Julia Zhang 7 minutes ago
There's just one little problem with using a non-Apple keyboard: figuring out some of the keyboa...
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Mason Rodriguez 10 minutes ago
For example, a software manual may tell you to hold down the command key ( ), which appears to be ...
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There&#39;s just one little problem with using a non-Apple keyboard: figuring out some of the keyboard equivalents. <h2> Windows and Mac Keyboard Differences </h2> At least five keys have different names or symbols on a Windows keyboard than they do on a Mac keyboard, which can make it difficult to follow Mac-related instructions.
Daniel Kumar Member
access_time 10 minutes ago
There's just one little problem with using a non-Apple keyboard: figuring out some of the keyboard equivalents.

Windows and Mac Keyboard Differences

At least five keys have different names or symbols on a Windows keyboard than they do on a Mac keyboard, which can make it difficult to follow Mac-related instructions.
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For example, a software manual may tell you to hold down the command key ( ), which appears to be ...
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For example, a software manual may tell you to hold down the command key ( ), which appears to be missing from your Windows keyboard. It&#39;s there; it just looks a little different. Here are the five most commonly used special keys on a Mac and their Windows keyboard equivalents.
Charlotte Lee Member
access_time 24 minutes ago
For example, a software manual may tell you to hold down the command key ( ), which appears to be missing from your Windows keyboard. It's there; it just looks a little different. Here are the five most commonly used special keys on a Mac and their Windows keyboard equivalents.
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Mac Key Windows Key Control Ctrl Option Alt Command (cloverleaf) Windows Delete Backspace Return Enter Use these to control various Mac functions, including using Mac OS X startup shortcuts. Another helpful bit of information for new Mac users is to know which menu key symbols correspond to which keys on the keyboard.
Brandon Kumar Member
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Mac Key Windows Key Control Ctrl Option Alt Command (cloverleaf) Windows Delete Backspace Return Enter Use these to control various Mac functions, including using Mac OS X startup shortcuts. Another helpful bit of information for new Mac users is to know which menu key symbols correspond to which keys on the keyboard.
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The symbols used in the Mac menus can be a bit strange to those new to the Mac, as well as old hands who may be more mousers than keyboard users.&nbsp; <h2> The Command and Option Key Swap </h2> Besides Windows and Mac keyboards having slightly different names, they also swap the positions of two often-used modifier keys: the Command and Option keys. If you’re a long-time Mac user transitioning to a Windows keyboard, the Windows key, which is equivalent to the Mac&#39;s Command key, may occupy the physical position of the Option key on a Mac keyboard.
Sophia Chen Member
access_time 16 minutes ago
The symbols used in the Mac menus can be a bit strange to those new to the Mac, as well as old hands who may be more mousers than keyboard users. 

The Command and Option Key Swap

Besides Windows and Mac keyboards having slightly different names, they also swap the positions of two often-used modifier keys: the Command and Option keys. If you’re a long-time Mac user transitioning to a Windows keyboard, the Windows key, which is equivalent to the Mac's Command key, may occupy the physical position of the Option key on a Mac keyboard.
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Harper Kim 3 minutes ago
Likewise, the Windows keyboard's Alt key is where you expect to find the Mac's Command key. ...
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Likewise, the Windows keyboard&#39;s Alt key is where you expect to find the Mac&#39;s Command key. If you&#39;re used to using the modifier keys from your old Mac keyboard, you&#39;re likely to run into trouble for a while as you relearn the key locations. <h2> How to Reassign Key Locations on a Mac </h2> Instead of having to relearn key locations, use the Keyboard pane in System Preferences to reassign the modifier keys.
Jack Thompson Member
access_time 18 minutes ago
Likewise, the Windows keyboard's Alt key is where you expect to find the Mac's Command key. If you're used to using the modifier keys from your old Mac keyboard, you're likely to run into trouble for a while as you relearn the key locations.

How to Reassign Key Locations on a Mac

Instead of having to relearn key locations, use the Keyboard pane in System Preferences to reassign the modifier keys.
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Henry Schmidt 16 minutes ago
Launch System Preferences by clicking its icon in the Dock, or clicking the Apple menu on the left s...
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Use the pop-up menu next to the Option and Command keys to select the action you wish the modifier k...
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Launch System Preferences by clicking its icon in the Dock, or clicking the Apple menu on the left side of the menu bar then selecting System Preferences. In the System Preferences window that opens, select the Keyboard preference pane. Click the Modifier Keys button.
Amelia Singh Moderator
access_time 30 minutes ago
Launch System Preferences by clicking its icon in the Dock, or clicking the Apple menu on the left side of the menu bar then selecting System Preferences. In the System Preferences window that opens, select the Keyboard preference pane. Click the Modifier Keys button.
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Use the pop-up menu next to the Option and Command keys to select the action you wish the modifier k...
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Don’t worry if this sounds a bit confusing, it will make more sense when you see the drop-down pan...
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Use the pop-up menu next to the Option and Command keys to select the action you wish the modifier keys to perform. In this example, you want the Option key (the Alt key on a Windows keyboard) to execute the Command action, and the Command key (the Windows key on a Windows keyboard) to perform the Option action.
Isabella Johnson Member
access_time 11 minutes ago
Use the pop-up menu next to the Option and Command keys to select the action you wish the modifier keys to perform. In this example, you want the Option key (the Alt key on a Windows keyboard) to execute the Command action, and the Command key (the Windows key on a Windows keyboard) to perform the Option action.
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Don’t worry if this sounds a bit confusing, it will make more sense when you see the drop-down pan...
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Make your changes and click the OK button, then close System Preferences. With the modifier keys rem...
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Don’t worry if this sounds a bit confusing, it will make more sense when you see the drop-down pane in front of you. Also, if things get a bit mixed up, click the Restore Defaults button to put everything back the way it was.
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Don’t worry if this sounds a bit confusing, it will make more sense when you see the drop-down pane in front of you. Also, if things get a bit mixed up, click the Restore Defaults button to put everything back the way it was.
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Make your changes and click the OK button, then close System Preferences. With the modifier keys remapped, you shouldn&#39;t have any problems using any Windows keyboard with your Mac. How to Use a Mac Magic Keyboard on a Windows PC <h2> Keyboard Shortcuts </h2> People new to the Mac but proficient using keyboard shortcuts to speed up their workflow may be a little taken aback by the notation used in the Mac&#39;s menu system to indicate when a keyboard shortcut is available.
Charlotte Lee Member
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Make your changes and click the OK button, then close System Preferences. With the modifier keys remapped, you shouldn't have any problems using any Windows keyboard with your Mac. How to Use a Mac Magic Keyboard on a Windows PC

Keyboard Shortcuts

People new to the Mac but proficient using keyboard shortcuts to speed up their workflow may be a little taken aback by the notation used in the Mac's menu system to indicate when a keyboard shortcut is available.
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If a keyboard shortcut is available for a menu item, the shortcut will be displayed next to the menu...
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If a keyboard shortcut is available for a menu item, the shortcut will be displayed next to the menu item using the following notation: Menu Item Notation Key Control Option Command Delete Return or Enter Shift Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why!
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If a keyboard shortcut is available for a menu item, the shortcut will be displayed next to the menu item using the following notation: Menu Item Notation Key Control Option Command Delete Return or Enter Shift Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why!
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